What would you do?

[brewercm]

I know this was kind of covered a little while back but this is with a little different perspective.

My daughter and friends had their dance recital today and before it started they said there was to be "no photography" due to a contract with a videographer that was filming the recital. They have said this in the past and came back and cleared up that it was no flash photography that makes perfect since.

I went to the back to ask others who work at the dance studio and they asked around and checked with the photog on site who was doing portraits and they said there is no contract for photography. Then was told the same as usual just don't use flash which was already my plan. Once again the same person who was emceeing stated before starting that there was to be no photography of any kind.

One of the ladies who works there is a good friend that I always take photos for during these things so I was really kind of torn on what to do. Now I have only spent probably a little under a grand for this whole year just to find out that the only way I’ll be able to remember this “one and only” recital my daughter has worked for is to buy a DVD from this company (which we did anyway). I didn’t want to continue asking more and more people as I’ve already bothered most of the staff at this point and the hired photog on site doing portraits.

What I ended up doing was taking non-flash photos like was the plan for me and my friends (who I don’t charge for, just love to do it). I figured if they asked me to stop or was kicked out (doubt it would come to that) at least maybe I got to get a some memories before being asked, not to mention there were at least another 50 people also taking pictures so we were all going as a group.

I guess I’m just curious about was I in the wrong here or what? I start getting the feeling at times like these dance studios are just bleeding us like crazy, and hey, everyone has to make a buck I have no problem with that. I can also understand if they had a contract photographer on site then I would just ask them first. But with as much money as I spend a year it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth at times to not be able to save these memories. Not to mention our friend pays ten times more per year for all of their daughters and multiple classes etc.

Feel free to blast into me if I was wrong, can't learn any other way.

[Noe]

I would have taken the pictures also with out flash. Like you stated, it's one way to remember our kids. As a paying parent, I should be able to take pictures. However, I do see it from the photographers point of view. We usually buy a photo from the photographers or DVD, unless they are really bad, but that has not been the case in most situations.

So one of my questions is if the videographer or photographers that they hire for these events, do they get model releases signed by the parents so they can sell the videos? If you refuse to sign a model release, do they edit the video or take care of not getting your daughter in there? If you didn't sign a model release can they still take pics of your kids?

I probably have more answers than questions.

[Tom]

So one of my questions is if the videographer or photographers that they hire for these events, do they get model releases signed by the parents so they can sell the videos? If you refuse to sign a model release, do they edit the video or take care of not getting your daughter in there? If you didn't sign a model release can they still take pics of your kids?

This is what I want to know. I'm not sure I would give them permission to make money off my kids likeness. Then again, I may not care by the time I actually have kids.

[Dobick]

I'm kinda torn on this.

Sounds like 50 people with cameras all taking photos would be fairly disruptive of the actual recital.

the amount of money that you spent with the dance studio over the years should have no bearing on this whatsoever. If you think it should -- at what price point should I be able to walk up and freely take a dump on stage?

It doesn't sound as if the reason for issuing the no photography rule was profit driven to me.

So let me get this straight -- the only way that you will remember that your daughter was involved in dance is if you have a photo or DVD of the event? I remember very clearly my first kiss and there is no photo of that. I remember the day that I caught my first touchdown pass when I was in Jr High and there is no photo of that.

I am not saying that photos are unimportant, but sometimes it is ok to experience life without having a photo to remind you of it down the road.

Imagine how many more memories you would have had of the performance had you actually watched it instead of photographing it?

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by Dobick

I'm kinda torn on this.

Sounds like 50 people with cameras all taking photos would be fairly disruptive of the actual recital.

It's not like there were 50 people at the front of the stage taking pictures. Everyone that did was respectful of the recitals going on. Everyone was in their seats and no flashes. I'm not sure how can this be distracting.

[texkam]

there was to be no photography of any kind.

As Seth Meyers would say .... "REALLY?, ..... REALLY! It's a kid's dance recital for cryin' out loud. This is what all these parents buy their p&s cameras for. The dance studio needs to be reasonable and realize parents want to be able to take pics. No flash certainly makes sense, but IMHO they should be a little more accommodating to their CUSTOMERS.

[brewercm]

We did buy both also. We purchased pictures from the photogropher who was doing the portraits along with the DVD. Both of these folks were different groups and did not work together. Also like I stated there was no photographer contracted this year for the actual recital, just portraits in the lobby.

[Noe]

@Kent
That's a great point that you made. I do agree that you don't need a photograph to remember the most important things in your life. Just being there and enjoying it is pretty awesome in itself. It has happened to me where I am to busy trying to take pictures, that I miss some things.

As for taking a dump on stage...I have stage fright so I'll pass.

[wclavey]

I think I can see both sides of the "Memories vs. Taking Pictures" discussion - - I agree that sometimes, when I planned to take pictures, I was so wrapped up in taking pictures that I missed many of the moments. But recently, something else has happened.

My son is an only child. He just graduated from college this spring. My wife and I had him later in life than most people do - - we were always the oldest people at PTA meetings... and we live 1900 miles away from his nearest relative. In a serious moment of discussion with him, he realized that, unlike many of the kids he was in college with, he had no group of family with whom he shared a large collection of his experiences, no brothers & sisters, no cousins - - no group conversations about the things they did together. He asked us if there was something we could do to help him - - could we package up pictures and mementos of our families and many of the events, parties, vacations, holidays, etc. so that it wol help him remember about them.

I think that many of the things we consider as "memories" are actually part of the set of shared and oft-discussed family traditions and experiences that he doesn't have, and not just what he, himself, may remember. I remember, before first grade, that my uncle (who just died last year) live in our house, in an apartment in the basement. I remember a few specific things - - but it was from conversations with him, his wife, and my mother (his sister) that I have a much more complete image of his living there beyond those few isolated memories of my own - - I was 5 years old. And then I found his pictures of living there after he died...

So, I guess I'm suggesting that, the pictures I took at my son's shows & competitions may not help me remember, but they may help provide him some remembrances. I would not have considered that before...

[TheFantasticG]

Originally Posted by Dobick

So let me get this straight -- the only way that you will remember that your daughter was involved in dance is if you have a photo or DVD of the event? I remember very clearly my first kiss and there is no photo of that. I remember the day that I caught my first touchdown pass when I was in Jr High and there is no photo of that.

I don't remember my first kiss. Don't even remember the girl. I barely remember anything. Thats why there's over 30,000 images on my hard drives. Because I can't remember squat! I need the photos to jog my memories. I was talking to my Dad about this today. He's taking many more pictures now because he is slowly finding it harder and harder to remember things specifically without a jogger.

As far as the dance thing... I'd take pictures regardless. I'd just abide by the no flash.

[rockpics]

Hmmm. The oft stated reason that wedding photography should be costly, (sometimes more costly than the catering or the wedding dress) is that the food, dress, venue are temporal and will fade from memory, but the photos are forever. Just say'in.

[bcody]

At my daughter's dance studio, you can sign up for the pro to do portraits before the recital at the studio. During recital, they have a pro video person, but you can still take photos or video yourself, as long as no flash and you are not getting in the way.

I have no pictures of me as a kid, NONE. I was the 5th out of 6 in a poor family. I would love to have photos to look back on, so I take a ton of pictures of my kids and all they do. But, there does have to be a balance between photographing it and living it. I take my daughters dance pictures during the dress rehersal, and I watch the recital. I took pictures of my son doing the warm up runs on the horse, and watched the runs, or I take photos of some classes, and watch the others. I want to give them my attention as much as I want to give them pictures.

[carrbowl]

I am the pro taking the photos at the dance studio. I am not the horses behind. I don't even care if you take a photo with my backdrop as long as you don't get in my way and don't distract your kid. Parents are great about working things out. They know it's a business for me and I know they want some photos too. Once the recital is going, we always allow non flash photography. In fact on dress rehearsal night you can have flash photography. Like everything else, things have gotten out of control and we have forgotten the basic reason we do things...the dance recital is for kids to learn and have fun...not for parents to make and spend their money!!

[brewercm]

The pro taking the pictures was very curtious about it when asked and I appreciate that. I did take some at the dance dress rehersal but unfortunately at her age group there are teachers and everyone else on stage at the same time, no props etc. Just not the same feeling but try to limit during the recital anyways for the same reason others spoke of. I have gone back and looked at pictures afterwards and don't recall certain things that I had taken. Definitely gets destracting from actually being able to watch.

Regardless still had a blast and have our memories. I really think it all came down to a lack of communication with the staff. I was just curious.

[DSL_PWR]

Simple, you pay for the classes and you should take photos for your memories. No reason to pay someone for photos when you can take them yourself.